Classy College Wear: Look Chic by Just Being You

Student (scad.edu) Savannah, Georgia.  The Sartorialist

I have been in deep thought lately, wondering why are so many young women these days purposefully making themselves and their body look so much older?  There is absolutely no need to be "old", when all you need is to be you now.  


Us women are such strange creatures...when we are little girls, we want to be "big girls".  When we become adult age, well, we try to look older and perhaps a bit sexier with the boys by adding a little cleavage here and there and hiking up that skirt.  But, when we are officially older, well there's no amount of money to spare in our La Mer cream to prevent the signs of aging.  


Aging catches up with all of us.  It's a painful degenerative process for some people (especially for athletes), and all women eventually experience it...even you.  This magnificent process of blooming into the ultimate desert rose begins at 27.5. Your body goes from youthful and energetic, to a bit lethargic and at times uncomfortable, and that is the exact time in your life when you are no longer as my mother would say: a spring chicken. 


Take care of yourself by exercising and creating a healthy life routine (gym, dance classes, good friends that make you feel good and for your heart....don't talk ill of others).  It's also important to have a healthy balance between school and homework.  not to mention young women need to become conscious of everything we nourish our bodies with, and expose our minds to.  Just like a car, food is nutrition...and by food I mean anti-oxidants like fruits, veggies and raw food that will detoxify your blood from cancer causing agents-not pizza, chocolate bars from the vending machine and especially chips or french fries!.


You can prevent loosing your figure by thirty if you take the appropriate measures.  But either way, if you happen to loose your figure, don't fret, if you're confident the world is yours.  Make sure to become really really smart READ...a lot!  Because being brighter as you get older, is one of the sexiest features a woman can have, (really do men want a pretty face who can't teach their children or do they want smart genes to be transferred to their kids?) and trust me no girl with a pea size brain can be more beautiful than you to real gentlemen (you read that ladies, MEN not Boys).  Continue to care about your personal feminine hygiene:  neat room, neat hair, clean clothes, clean shoes--radiate health!  It is important to feed our brains with great knowledge, so whatever information we learn, we use it to edify the lives of others, and in effect ours.   


In these times excessive stress, inner anger, no work out routine, or a great support of good friends mixed with an unhealthy lifestyle will increase your chances for breast cancer-so prevent it early!  And it there is already a history of it in your family (like your grandmother, or sister) there is a chance that you are in greater risk than others.


Back to the fashion issue, there is nothing wrong with dressing according to your age.  Especially if you are young and beautiful!  A girl can wear anything with creativity and it will look absolutely stunning-and cute!  Just make sure to smile and be nice to other people, (even if you don't like them-find something that you like about them and that changes your entire experience).  


I wanted to show you two great looks (featured on this post).  They exude so much of the individual essence of these young women.  Pictured above is a feminine yet, darling dressed college student with a whimsical air of flirtatious cute as she shows off her individuality and pride in being a schoolgirl.  The photo below on the other hand says elegant chic, sexy yet mysterious for boys, inspired by  a love for comfort-check the sneakers out! (Girls, also I will never sacrifice my child rearing age back for uncomfortable pair of shoes no matter who they are by!) accessories mixed with vintage jewelry from mom's closet and a bag from grandma's trunk!  So chic!  

Student.  Milan, Italy.  The Sartorialist.

I have been constantly amazed how girls of all ages have become incredibly creative with their look.  Especially when most are constrained by a low budget due to the great global economic recession.  For you ethical fashion conscious ladies, vintage is also another method of being "Green".  The movement is giving these beautiful vintage items a second life!  


With the wide array of opportunity stores (vintage stores, thrift stores, consignment shops) in small towns and hidden gems in large city we have inspired a new era of vintage cool, and you can be sure-no one is going to be walking down a street wearing the same outfit you have...It will feel so good to have everyone ask: "Where did you get this blouse?  Who's your bag by?".  Woo them, tell them your sister sent it to you from Italy.


If this post inspires you to rethink your look, the best way to redesign and redefine yourself is to think and be certain:  "I am a work of graceful art"  let my fashion reflect the best of me, my individuality,  my joy, intelligence and how I truly am inside:  Beautiful.  Believe me, you don't need anything else but yourself as a canvas, creativity as your armor, and conscious chic thrift.  


So gals we conclude this post with the message: be creative, smile, let go of the anger, don't drown in a glass of water, learn to problem solve early, don't cry over spilled milk, and make it part of your shopping consciousness to buy and wear things that no one else has and make you feel, like the princess that you are!   Because you are unique!  


Don't forget being a little different is better than all the copies out there...don't you think?  

Teenage Paparazi, Adrian Grenier's Redeemed Heart & Intellect

In a survey of 700 kids, 42% chose to be a personal assistant to a celebrity instead of being a University President, or U.S. Senator.

After watching Adrian Grenier's documentary on a Teenage Paparazzi, I have found a new respect in his sense of responsibility to society by portraying the empty life of a self absorbed teenage child who thanks to Grenier has an encounter with personal fame and experiences a complete personality change, and we can all witness it on camera.

Grenier realizes he is responsible for the monster he has created in Austin and attempts to find a solution.  During his conversations with Paris Hilton during the film (who cheerfully played into his paparazzi charades), compares this child with Narcissus, the Greek god who fell in love with his personal reflection on a river stream, fell in and drowned.  Adrian begins to feels a great sense of disconnect with his prodigy star during the film after the Teen Vogue calls and E! reality TV proposals start cluttering Austin's phone lines.  Immediately, Grenier is propelled to action and begins exploring viable options of personal and professional, sustainable growth for his film prodigy Austin.  With little success, Grenier he tries introducing him to photojournalism & social culture only to have the camera capture the inability of this child to concentrate in his schoolwork, or anything else besides Hollywood.

While wearing a t-shirt that says "Love is My Religion" Grenier sits down the newly famed monster Austin and his fame hungry mother to watch a run of the film to be aired.  The mother, brought to shame, realizes that she has lost control of her child, who can hardly focus on his personal schoolwork and asks him to reform his style seeing how her dirty laundry would be aired to the world.  Although the fame monster learned that he doesn't feel like he needs to impress people, it was refreshing to see a more mature and well balanced young man, a year later.  Hopefully Grenier does a follow up in which Austin overcomes his obvious ADD & learning disability and successfully graduates from college.  That's a future, the youth of America not only needs to witness, but one they really need to believe in.

Real People Style, This Week's Notable Couple: Lisa & Brad

While checking out the stores on the popular M Street in D.C.'s Georgetown, Today's adventure took me inside an Anthropologie.  
I was highly pleased to find a young dame creatively sporting a beautiful sweater that made an excellent contrast with her blouse and belt.  Although not pictured, her shoes were also fabulous.  Her style was clean, feminine, and her blouse's flair exuded pride in her simple femininity. 

It was quite pleasing to also see her gentleman companion wearing a well fitted suit...and not a cap, dirty sandals and t-shirt like so many men out there are trying to attract ladies with.  We commend this look, a gentleman should always look his best, sharp, clean and strapping.

Lisa and Brad, we give you a ten in the Real People Style Scale.

The Sartorialist is at it again, Capturing The Essence of a Dame

I only have a few words for this post, but one that reflects the ultimate image of it...stunning.  I was highly impressed by this beautiful shot.  Two ladies doing what all women should do best...be a dame and enjoy the femininity and freedom of being a beautiful woman.  

Ladies, this is the look for fall.  Being a Dame is in.

New York Fashion Week Has Arrived! But the Weekend Festivities Begin Here...

By CoutureJive

 

 I have been counting down to this weekend because its going to be Amazing.  Not only does it mark the beginning of socialite and "fashionite" mayhem...(Fashion Week!) I am also participating in Susan G. Komen's Race For The Cure in Greater New York, and I get to honor the memory of my darling grandmother!  Not to mention that I have the cutest running outfit sisters!

While I prepare for my race here are a few list of fave events for you to participate in.  Not only are these events fashionably fun, one of them is actually making a difference in our world with fashion!  So we send love and kudos to Designer Steven Alan for being...fashionably and charitably Awesome.

To do on Friday:

1. Designer Steven Alan and Goods for Good are teaming up to host a good-inspiring event for Fashion's Night Out.  Designers Steven Alan, Geren Ford, Soludos, Relwen, Rag and Bone and more are highlighting special items from each of their collections to benefit Goods for Good; 20% of the proceeds from these items will benefit G4G’s Tailor-in-Training program, which creates school uniforms from donated fabrics for orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi.  I think this may be one of my new fave charitable organizations.  For more information visit www.goods4good.org 

Steven Alan's Tribeca Boutique

103 Franklin Street

New York, N.Y. 10013

2. Burton Snowboards is hosting a great event celebrating their first participation in Fashion Week (ever).  They will be giving away a $500 shopping spree, this is worth passing by just for a chance for a shopping spree!  Must look cute when the slopes open!  Maybe this year I'll get my pink snowboard...

Burton Snowboards Flagship Store
106 Spring Street (at Mercer)
New York, NY 10012

7:00pm - 11:00pm

3. A goofy fun event, is look for Ken night.  Yes, we all want to find our real manly Ken who will treat us like a Queen...but in the mean time, we're going to have to settle for following this little guy around and having a few laughs in between.

Fashion’s Night Out in a Ken-tastic, glass-walled truck. Throughout the night you can track Ken's whereabouts via Facebook, Twitter and foursquare.  He will be showing up for photo opps at different stops including SoHo and Fifth Avenue, ultimately, his Ken-Tastic Truck ends the night with a bang in the Meatpacking District.  Don’t miss the chance to see the “real” Ken dressed for six different dream dates…remember, dolls, plastic boyfriends last forever!  Make sure to send us your photo; we'll make that bitch Barbie jealous!

Design by: Anna Sui

In the mean time, stay tuned for Fashion Week, we are looking forward to seeing the whimsical delicacies of Anna Sui, Zac Posen, Tory Burch, The Heart Truth Collection, Rebecca Taylor, Narcisso Rodriguez, La Perla, Elie Tahari, Diane von Furstenberg, Esteban Cortazar and Carolina Herrera.

CoutureJive's Store on EBay! Check Out The Listing!

Dear Visitor,

Handmade Headpiece, Etsy

I am so thrilled to have readers from all over the world visiting our page.  Hello to our faithful friends in New York, and newly art, literature and vintage fashionistas in Russia and Germany.  Keep visiting us dames!  But please, don't forget to let us know who you are!  


Write us your thoughts, drop us a line any intellectual happenings, fun photos or best yet, submit a photo of your best outfit (or the cute eye candy of the week!) at info@couturejive.com we are going to start featuring our readers and broadcasting them to the universe!

Other news, we are making space in our closets for the fall we are selling a beautiful Salvatore Ferragamo wallet through EBay-check out our store!  CoutureJive Is Selling a Used Salvatore Ferragamo Wallet (click here to go to the store!)


10% of every purchase you make through CoutureJive on EBay benefits SFK (www.successforkids.org) an international non-profit organization dedicated to empowering at-risk children and teens to become resilient, productive citizens.  


Thanks to hundreds of volunteers and teachers who are dedicated to SFK's fun educational programs, participants are taught interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, problem solving and self-sufficiency, but most of all this program gives kids a greater sense of purpose in their lives!  


Please tell your friends about our store, we appreciate your wonderful following and support.

Keep Smiling...with Love,

CoutureJive

It's The Little Things

By KF, Contributor from 2MiamiVices

I woke up this morning on the wrong side of the bed.  My 4 year old son somehow made his way into my bed and took over my side.  But,  my true crankiness was brought on from the fact my ex-boyfriend/best friend/lover/neighbor was heading to Chicago to celebrate his 50th birthday, and...I was not invited.  Whatever the current status of our relationship, it was difficult to know I was not going to be a part of his special day. 

I dragged myself out of bed glowing in gloom, got my son ready in 20 minutes (including me) and managed enough time to stop at my favorite coffee shop on the way to drop him off at school.  To my surprise I look up above the cash register and saw the one sign I wait for all summer long:  "Whaddaya know?!  Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back for the season!"

For those of you that are fave coffee shop addicts like myself, this announcement is a HUGE day of joy for our pallets. My gloomy man-misery turned to instant girl-bliss!

So my brief yet tasteful coffee experience got me thinking...it's the little things that make us smile.  Somewhere in our crazy, hectic days there are things that just can turn a frown upside down in an instant. 

So I am sharing a list of all things that make me seriously happy:

My son's laugh, dusk, back tickles, dancing naked to Depeche Mode, tall nonfat pumpkin spice lattes, rainbows, peonies, afternoon naps with the one you love, dark chocolate with orange peel, driving with the top down, fresh crisp sheets, warm bread pudding, hot bubble baths, dimples, listening to my iPod on shuffle, Clinique Happy, mountains, a handwritten greeting card, great sushi, a good massage, steam rooms, saunas, listening to the waves roll in, butterflies when you meet someone and you just "know" that it's going to be something incredibly special...

Tonight I will go to bed happy.  Happy for the little things and grateful for the chance to experience the ups and downs of true love.

Must Have Protection for Your Lips, This Fall & Year Round...

Healthy Beauty Tips
By CoutureJive


Climate change causes all sorts of not so sexy adverse effects on our skin: wind, dust, heat, one moment its freezing, next we are soaked in rain.  


Well this summer I decided to prepare by purchasing Fresh's amazing Sugar Rose lip tint and put it to good use in my uber mega ziplining, caving, beach swimming, and snorkeling island adventure.  I tested it under incredibly severe weather conditions, including inside a bat filled cave while drenched in mud, and I still managed to look really good.  

My lips felt amazing the entire time (you definitely feel them coated)!  Protected from those evil sun rays, I looked healthy, bright and naturally beautiful in all my photos, even when I was soaked in water after coming out of the beach!

So ladies, I highly recommend you get yourself one of these and keep it in your purse as a "just in case".  This little lip tint is perfect for keeping your lips youthful, colorful and protected from sunrays and the effects of climate change--year round!

We recommend you purchase it online--Fresh sends three amazing samples with ever order.  Go here: http://www.fresh.com/

Send us your photo info@couturejive.com wearing your lip tint; we want to see how you keep your skin protected from the elements!  Cutest, fun filled photo gets a feature on our blog!  

How Could You Do This To Us Paris?

The Office of National Drug Control Policy estimates the number of cocaine addicts in the United States is 3.6 million people, are you one of them?

By Lucy Chase

The Hilton Princess Paris was caught with what she claims to have been a piece of gum in her purse. Upon closer inspection by a police officer, it was found this alleged funny gum wrapper was cocaine.  I thought you were stronger than that.  How could you Paris?  The news broke my heart and disappointed me greatly, perhaps because the Lindsay Lohan situation was so toxic itself, I didn't want to see another Hollywood starlet drama unfold...again, and drown the media outlets from news that are really affecting our world (like the Floods in Pakistan), again.  Why couldn't I see something good come out from this woman? These girls enjoy surrounding themselves with incredible toxicity; I think I'm going to need a radioactive suit just to hear their name.

There are probably thousands of women out there that are not too fond of Paris.  I on the other hand, actually liked her.  I thought she was a good young woman, with incredible potential with perhaps a bit too much paparazzi attention.  Yet in the bottom of my heart, I strongly believed just as she had the amazing capacity to become this super global brand of beauty, she could also be a strong force of good.  Paris never been camera shy, and indeed at times has had a mouth running faster than a Ferrari at times (public appearance coaches where are you?  That's right, there's one right here!), I did compare her stealth in business to be like (or even greater) than Ivanka Trump (who deserves a post for her amazing dame like qualities and strength in business all to herself).

Sadly, Paris has fallen out of my top rank in strong, shamelessly beautiful business ladies, and has definitely lost my "approved for tweens idol" seal.  Below some interesting statistics and useful information why women (especially you) should think twice before sniffing this garbage up your nose.

Cocaine restricts and narrows the blood vessels; even healthy people can be at risk for these life-threatening problems such as:

•               Increased blood pressure

•               Increased breathing and heart rates

•               Nausea and vomiting

•               Anxiety and paranoia

•               Insomnia and irritability

•               Convulsions or seizures

•               Loss of appetite and dangerous weight loss

•               Cold sweats

•               Nose bleeds and nasal passage damage

•               Lung damage

Did you know Cocaine Addiction has reached almost epidemic proportions in the United States of America?

•        Nearly 1.5 million people regularly abuse cocaine

•        It is estimated that 10 percent of the world's population has tried cocaine at least once in their lives

•        Every day in the United States, 5,000 people will try cocaine for the first time, which isn't surprising considering how many cocaine addicts there are here

•        Considering that there were only 30,000 new users of cocaine in 1975 and that in 2000 there were 361,000 new users, it is clear that cocaine is having quite a serious impact on the lives of those living in the United States

Additionally, when people inject the drug, they risk exposing themselves to diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, which can be transmitted through the repeated use of dirty or shared needles.  Also, if the user is taking any other drugs, whether illicit or legal, there may be allergic or other negative reactions to chemical cocktails in their body.

So Paris, even if you have the most incredible mug shot the world has ever witnessed, you have become the same messy drama that today's weak media thrives on: "Vampiring on the issues affecting the emotional emptiness and grave issues in the hearts of hundreds of starlets across our Nation". 

Same Lindsay drama on a different day, your bad luck Paris was getting caught... and now you are going to be seen just like Lindsay Lohan, another spoiled girl who didn't know how to say no, for the sake of her career, or at least in your case, the sake and honor of your good family name.  Someday, just like Lohan, I hope to become a believer in your ability to become a force of good, and I hope to see it.

Writing is my life job..."Fashion is those pretty little blue pieces of paper on my desk"

Pretty Little Blue Pieces of Paper, I Love Karen Walker
By CoutureJive


ABOUT THE TITLE OF THIS POST: Karen (Megan Mullally), a millionaire, worked for her friend Grace as a personal assistant.  She paid for Grace's health insurance and Christmas Bonus.  Although Karen hardly worked, she never cashed any of the paychecks she was given because, being rich, she didn't need to; also, Karen and Grace had made a deal that, in exchange for not cashing the checks, Karen was not required to actually do any work. Instead, she kept them in a shoebox on her desk because she thought they were "pretty little blue pieces of paper".


I was walking earlier this afternoon to my usual coffee shop spot ready to enjoy an icy drink.  I noticed the woman serving me the coffee (at this prominent and quite well known coffee venue) was wearing big, floppy, black and white men's sports sandals with a pair of socks who have probably never experienced the joy of a good laundry day in their lives.  Immediately, I called her attention and kindly said: "Oh honey, you should think about wearing shoes".  She was taken aback by such a gutsy comment, and proceeded to say: "yeah, I just didn't feel like wearing shoes".  I just smiled and said: "Oh well, hope the health department doesn't find out".

I walked back to my office (aka: my $50K a year university), eyeing the ridiculous amount of fashion blunders in this town.  I stopped to buy a bottle of water at an outdoor market and saw a woman in her early thirties with her jean's zipper down, they were down because the jeans did not fit her, and I had to be the good samaritan that hopes to prevent a grown woman from embarrassing herself.  So I told her: "zip up".

...And that's when I realized that I have an eye for fashion blunders, and a mouth, that is so keenly nice about the person's grave sin against the god of style, I don't think it will ever be controlled to keep it quiet.

I was thinking this afternoon, who or what in the world made me develop into this sharp eye scanner and cataloguer of trends for fabulous fashion.  Not my peace and love California mother.  I blame it on my red lipstick model grandmother (RIP), and my uber high couture godmother who from years running a Saks Fifth Avenue, the woman can spot a fake bag and can tell what season your shoes are from by standing a mile away...they remind me of that woman on the Will & Grace show, and I realized friends I am also turning out to be Karen Walker.

Enjoy the video, think of your closet and become aware of your style tonight.  More new thoughts to follow tomorrow, much to say after an adventure filled summer.  If you can't see the video, please...watch it on YouTube.